South Ankole Diocese Marks 14 Years, Commissions 80 Lay Readers

South Ankole Diocese of the Church of Uganda has marked 14 years since its inception with a grand thanksgiving celebration, highlighted by the commissioning of 80 lay readers and renewed calls for humility, peace and community development.

The celebrations were held on Sunday at St Mathews Cathedral, Kyamate, drawing hundreds of clergy, lay leaders and faithful from across the diocese. The milestone event underscored the diocese’s spiritual growth, physical expansion and evolving role in shaping society beyond the pulpit.

During the commissioning ceremony, the Bishop of South Ankole Diocese, the Rt Rev Nathan Ahimbisibwe, urged the newly commissioned lay readers to embrace service with humility, warning against pride after receiving ecclesiastical authority.

After being commissioned, the lay readers were cautioned against taking their new role with pride, but instead encouraged to “understand the grace more and serve the Lord,” Bishop Ahimbisibwe said as he blessed them.

He further charged them, saying: “Be the light where there is darkness, and not darkness.”

The 80 lay readers were formally vested with stoles, marking their readiness to serve in preaching, teaching and supporting clergy across parishes in the diocese.

The main celebrant at the thanksgiving service was the Bishop of North Ankole Diocese, the Rt Rev Alfred Muhoozi, assisted by Bishop Ahimbisibwe.

In his sermon, Bishop Muhoozi commended South Ankole Diocese for its visible growth, pointing to improved physical structures and infrastructure as clear indicators of steady progress over the last 14 years.

He described the anniversary as a moment of reflection and gratitude anchored in scripture, citing 1 Samuel 7:12, Psalms 118:20 and 1 Peter 2:4, and reminded believers of God’s sustaining hand throughout the diocese’s journey.

“These are 14 years of positive change, development, unity and being one,” Bishop Muhoozi said.

Touching on the wider social and political context, Bishop Muhoozi noted that Uganda’s recent electoral season had come to an end and called on Christians to shift their focus towards development and peaceful coexistence.

He urged families to prioritise harmony, emphasising the role of appreciation and mutual respect in building peaceful homes.

“Politically there is stability, and culturally people have changed their minds. They have advanced,” Bishop Muhoozi noted.

He also cautioned Christians against abandoning faith in pursuit of alternative spiritual practices, reaffirming the central theme of the celebrations, “Our God is our source of power.”

“People go into witchcraft and leave behind the stone of help. They go to deeper waters and worship evil instead of praying to the Creator. The Lord is a strong tower,” Bishop Muhoozi said.

As South Ankole Diocese enters its 15th year, church leaders used the anniversary to reaffirm their commitment to spiritual growth, social transformation and unity, positioning the church as a pillar of moral guidance, peace and development in the region.